In need of going out clothes

[PhoebeMcPeePee]

I'm in desperate need of some going out clothes. The sort of thing I can wear out to a bar with girlfriends, dinner with DH or theatre etc No specific budget but hoping for at least 2 outfits (potential to mix & match would be good) and most of my wardrobe is from Vinted a mix of Albaray, Mint Velvet, Saint+ Sofia, Reiss, Hush, Nobody's Child, All Saints with Uniqlo for basics.

5ft 6 size 12 top 14 bottom classic pear shaped. I have a good waist/décolletage but not keen on my legs (specifically thighs/knees) or upper arms. I generally prefer dresses & skirts over trousers must cover my knees! I've got this Nobody's Child black dress that I love & dress up or down but can't wear it every time I go out! I'd say I'm classic day to day but quite like the edge of somewhere like All Saints - floaty floral dresses or Boden stripes definitely not for me!

Any suggestions either separates with suggestions how to style or whole outfits would be amazing as I'm not great at putting everything together.

Thanks @OnikaSabrinaDesign will take a look but was rather hoping for personal rather than AI recommendations

I love that Nobody’s Child dress. If you feel good in it - I’d just get that in the other colours 😉

How bloody rude!

Honestly I don’t know why the OP thought you weren’t a genuine poster!

I don't get the love for Reiss but then I never have. It has always felt way overpriced and also somehow dated.

But then it makes me wonder whether I am also dated because I would look really strange in their clothes 😆

@Exasperated24 I spend a lot of my working day rewriting AI content so maybe I've got a better radar than most, but the grammar, format, content are all classic AI generated - put my post in and you pretty much get that response verbatum.

Apologies to @OnikaSabrinaDesign I should have just kept my thoughts to myself as I gained from commenting except offend you & others.

Are you wanting recommendations for brands you might look for on Vinted, or do you have a budget for new in store stuff?

@JadedFilly it's actual outfits I'm struggling with - like this skirt and wear with this top & these shoes! I tend to look for clothes in store/online/insta etc for inspiration and then buy the item on Vinted but do sometime by new or often ask for clothing birthday gifts. £200 is my max and I'd like to have a couple of outfit options for that.

I used to wear a lot of Reiss clothes for work and do have some tops I still like but generally find them a bit slinky & formal now. A satin skirt for example - I have a lovely navy one which I wore out when I was slimmer but feel very self conscious about my wide hips & wobbly thighs so wouldn't wear that now. Ditto jersey dresses.

@PhoebeMcPeePee That Penni dress is nice. Is the scoop back high enough to conceal a bra?

Ooh, I'm in love with that Penni dress! I like the khaki one, would really suit my colouring, and it's reduced 😁

I went around Regent St area looking for going out outfits today and was a bit disappointed with what was in the shops. A bit in between - still lots of jumpers. Anthropologie had the best pieces I thought although nothing I actually bought, some nice tops for a jeans and a top outfit and some great patent pointed flats. That’s my go to for a casual bar or restaurant - jeans, Ganni style blouse and pointed boots or
flats. I was hoping to get a new dress but agree with the above that to me the Reiss/Karen Millen style feels a bit dated but maybe I over did that in my youth!

The nobody’s child dress - I’ve been staring at that for months. Does it work with a bra…?

It works with a strapless bra. I'm small boobed & mine is quite snug so I've worn with just taping but larger bust you'll need to size up and decide whether strapless is sufficient.

Glad you all like the dress (& I am very tempted to get another colour) but doesn't help my quest for something different

@fiorentina yes jeans, shirt and boots or pointed flats is my go-to normally. What jean shape do you wear?

Can I suggest splurging a bit of cash on a leather or faux leather midi skirt? I have two and wear them a lot for all the occasions you mention - the stiffer material helps hold things in and it can be made either cosy with a jumper, or sexy with a lightly unbuttoned masculine silk blouse, or casual with a cropped t shirt, or suitable for work with a structured shirt and blazer.

@WillaDeWord great idea thanks. Any brand recommendations for either real leather or not too thin/naff looking faux leather?

Currently I wear barrel leg jeans
usually. Or straight leg as well.

I would recommend this black cutwork too from M and S with jeans / Mary Janes / ombré teardrop earrings (also m and s).
Have worn the top on a few outings and friends have asked if it was Sezanne. It has the look of some of the Sezanne lace blouses.

Love that blouse @RingofBrodgar !
I have similar earrings that I love to dress up an outfit.

I’ve got two faux leather skirts that are thick and have lasted well (some faux leather starts to break up and kind of flake).

One is Marks and Ssspencer and I got it from Vinted. This is a long pencil shape with a split up the front.

The other is pleated and Dorothy Perkins, again I got it second hand.

I’ve also seen a lot of jeans-shaped leather/faux trousers around. An update on the ubiquitous leather leggings, more flattering and less ‘out there’ when you chuck a fine knit or chunky jumper on top. Got my eye on some from Marks again but they’re never in stock in the long length. Got some nice ones from River Island instead. Search ‘straight leg leather trousers’ and pick a brand you know works for you!

Max Mara and Joseph often have some lovely leather items. My leather skirt (oxblood) is from Emilia Wickstead and my faux leather skirt (olive) from Sisley - but don’t think they do these every season!

I get a lot of inspiration by following certain accounts on instagram - would that help you?